Join Us Fall 2015 !

The Leader in Me Youth Camp

LOPC – ATLAS Summer Camp

“The Leader in Me”

In the first event of its kind, ATLAS Ministry, Inc. partnered with Lake Oconee Presbyterian Church for a 3-day camp, July 8-10^th.

Everyone possesses God given gifts and has what it takes to be a leader.  Oftentimes, however, we do not tap into our God given potential. “The Leader in Me” Summer Camp was an opportunity for boys and girls to discover the leader within themselves.  Through a series of Bible studies, programs and events, 27 kids ages 6-17 from ATLAS’ Man-Up boys youth group and A place for Girls youth group, were off to an amazing start of leadership discovery.  

Lake Oconee Presbyterian Church inquired of ATLAS several months ago how the church might get more involved in its ministry to youth.  Over the intervening weeks, representatives from LOPC and ATLAS Family Services Division worked together to develop the summer camp, which LOPC hosted and led.  Approximately thirty volunteers from LOPC participated along with the ATLAS team.

The Personal Development Program at the Summer Camp focused on:  Kindness, Teamwork, Leadership, Serving Others and Dining Etiquette.  The camp also included fun and exciting outdoor activities such as Three Legged Race, Obstacle Course, Tug of War, Basketball and a Real Men Cook Grilling Team and Cooking with the Best Teams for the Girls. To foster leadership, the children were also introduced to the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Kids and Teens by Sean Covey. 

At dinner on Friday night the children were joined by their Parents, Volunteers and ATLAS Staff to reflect upon what they had learned within the past three days.  Look out Greene County, some amazing young leaders are coming your way!

For more information, please go to www.atlasministry.org or www.lopc-pca.org/outreach/AtlasMinistryInc to view the slideshow of the Summer Camp.

A Life Long Walk ... The Journey of a Mentor

"Every child is one caring adult away from being a success story."    Josh Shipp

Video of Kalen with Mentor Mike Daniel

                                         

Kalen's Graduation from Youth Challenge Academy
Mike, Kalen and Detective Raleigh Callaway (co-mentor)

Through ATLAS I became aware of Kalen and his family and asked if I could be Kalen’s mentor. Kalen was 11 years old at the time. Today he is seventeen. Because his father was not involved in his life, I wanted Kalen to know that I was making a commitment to him. I expressed to him that I would be there to see him graduate from high school, to one day get married and to see him have his first child...all in that order. I told him that I expected there would be times that he may try to push me away, but that it would not work. I would be there regardless. At the time I felt it was important for Kalen to know that a “father figure” loved him enough to stay the course.

Staying the course has not always been easy. As an eleven and twelve year old, Kalen was full of bitterness that presented itself by fighting, showing disrespect to his teachers and disconnecting from his school work. I learned about “tribunals” and meetings with probation officers in the juvenile system. Yet I never wavered in my belief that God had placed special gifts within Kalen and that the persevering love of Christ would one day unleash them.

Through Nick Rucker at ATLAS, Kalen discovered a relationship with Christ and things began to improve. A few months later true change occurred when Kalen made a decision to forgive his father. I still marvel at the attitudinal and behavioral change that we witnessed. Within two months of his decision to forgive every one of his teachers wrote glowing letters of support for him. Receiving our Lord’s forgiveness and passing it along to others is truly transformational.

Kalen's Baptism

Academically Kalen is behind, way behind. Over many years he has been passed along in school without being prepared for the next level. He was so far behind that we needed to find another route to his education. He has recently completed six months in the Youth Challenge Academy at Fort Stewart, Georgia followed by enrolling in St. Andrews School in Sevierville, Tn. This is where we, three weeks ago, filmed the short video linked to this article.

Just this week Kalen made an impulsive decision to leave St. Andrews to come back and help his mom through a particularly tough period of her life. We all, including his mom, are disappointed in both Kalen and the school for this rash decision. However, our love for Kalen and commitment to him remain strong. As I write this I am running a little late to pick Kalen up to discuss and discover what he sees as the next step in his growth, for there is always a next step, there is always opportunity to dream, always a possibility of a better future.

I am convinced God has destined Kalen to be a man of peace, a man that lives out His love, grace and forgiveness and touches the lives of his friends, family and community in positive ways. God has called me and others to be His hands in molding Kalen into the man He has designed. I love Kalen and thank God for the opportunity to be in his life.

                                                                         Mike Daniel is Kalen's mentor and ATLAS Board Chair

Kalen's 12th Birthday

ATLAS Ministry 8th Annual Golf Event

SAVE THE DATE !

Come Join Us at our 8th Annual ATLAS Ministry Golf Event!

ATLAS 1st Homework Diner

  

  

Family Services Ministry presents our very first:

“Homework Diner”

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

About a year ago I was watching NBC Nightly News, Making a Difference segment, and I saw a story about a Homework Diner. Here's the gist of that story:

Beginning as a 6 week pilot program in the spring of 2012, Homework Diner set out to involve parents in the school/after school community. The purpose of the Homework Diner was to engage parents in their child’s academic development, invite communication between home and school, and give parents support for homework help and ideas they can use at home. Average attendance fluctuated between 35-55 participants during the pilot. Due to overwhelming support from the parents’ desire to continue Homework Diner, now attendance often exceeds 100 participants (students, siblings of students, parents, teachers, volunteers, etc.).

Well, needless to say, this Homework Diner thing stayed on my heart. I began to pray about it and asked our team to pray. God gave us clearance to move forward.  After all, if He made it possible in Texas, he can do the same thing in Greensboro, GA.

What started as a tugging at the heart became a reality on April 29th!  What an awesome night. The Homework Diner was everything we imagined it would be and more. There were students, parents, mentors, tutors, homework helpers, staff, board members and volunteers. Parents and tutors had the opportunity to get to know each other and talk about ways we all can help our children learn.

There was a lot happening in the room; excitement, relationship building, servant hood and not to mention great food. But the thing we prayed for the most, that the parents would interact with the tutors and mentors in order to help the kids, was taking place and we were overjoyed.  Of course, there were a few things that we believe we can do to make the Home work Diner a better experience each time, but it was a great start. On a rainy Wednesday night, the Homework Diner was a very good place to be.

There were approximately 50 people in attendance; remember in Texas they started off with approximately 50 people and ended up with an average of 100 people. We feel as long as the children are learning and the relationships are growing, the numbers will grow, but it is God who adds the numbers. We give Him all the glory for such a wonderful evening. We believe that in Him, the best is yet to come. So look out, another Homework Diner will be coming your way soon!

For more information on the how you can volunteer to be a Homework Helper or Tutor, please contact Rebecca Epps or Angel Robbins at our ATLAS Office  706-453-0581

A Place for Girls

One of our many volunteers - Sharmeka, sits with 3 of our girls

A PLACE FOR GIRLS... A place where girls can learn, love, and be loved

Our Mission at A Place for Girls is to offer life changing relationships, activities and programs that empower girls to be their best self!

Our Vision is to provide engaging, encouraging and inspirational programs and activities that meet the needs of young girls in our community. We provide focus and support in the following areas:

• The need to be loved, accepted, and believed in.
• The need to know our identity in Christ.
• The need for social skills and personal enrichment. The need for better grades and educational opportunities.
• The need for Leadership Development.
• The need to be empowered to reach our goals in life.

Our goal isn’t to replace moms, but to offer everyone the love of Christ.

The History

On Christmas Day 2013, I sat and watched my daughter sing along with a 5-year old who was visiting our family. This little girl loves to sing, she loves to give hugs and she readily tells you “I love you”. As she sang, I couldn’t help but look at her and think about what her life will be like as she grows up. Unfortunately the thought wasn’t a very pleasant one. She could easily grow up and never reach her full potential in Christ. But I believe she can. I believe that this little girl and others like her can have a bright future. It may take a little intervention, but according to Titus 2:3-5, that is what we as woman should be doing.

You see, my mom was really young when she had me. In fact she was only nineteen. Yet, she always encouraged me, she always told me she loved me and she always put my needs over her own. She sang with me, she danced with me, she laughed with me and she believed in me. She took her role as mom as a gift and never a burden. Even as a little girl, I knew I was her gift.

My mom had what I call a village of friends who always encouraged me and made me feel empowered to be or do anything I thought I could be. It is my heart’s desire to give every little girl I come in contact with the same kind of love my mom gave me. Whether they are 5, 10, 15 or 20, I want girls to know they are special in God’s eye. I want girls to have someone to count on, who believes in them, who sings and dances with them, who laughs and hugs and is willing to put self aside and put them first.

For every little girl that needs it and every mom that needs a little help, there is a place for you, that place is A Place for Girls. A place where love abides and dreams are nurtured. Nesial Miller, Director of Family Services

A Place for Girls Includes:

• Daily Snack
• Girl Talk (Biblical Answers to everyday questions)
• One-On-One Tutoring
• Weekly Mentoring
• Monthly Homework Diner (Parents, Siblings and Mentor)
• Daily Activities (dance, drama, exercise, games, sports, etc.)
• Career Day
• Special activities and field trips
• College coaching and Career planning
• Summer work program
• Get Fit Friday

Research shows girls learn more quickly and deeply when they are taught by a role model. Girls need a real-life example. When a girl understands what it means to be a godly woman, she aspires to the design that God intended. A single-gender classroom has many benefits, but the greatest of these is for a girl to feel safe and secure in her discovery of who God intended her to be.

Girls encounter difficult situations as they grow up. By intentionally fostering relationships between girls and leaders through A Place for Girls, we can create a safe environment for girls to discuss issues they face and get Godly counsel. Most importantly, A Place for Girls shows each girl that God loves her and wants a relationship with her.

Community Spotlight ATLAS Ministry

The third week of January 2015, ATLAS Ministry Executive Director Rob Mitchell was interviewed by Dock 103.9 Community Spotlight Host Doug Hesse.  Click here to listen to the interview.